De g. à dr. Cassie Campbell, Beckie Scott, Daniel Igali, Mike Bossy, Larry Walker et Doug Flutie
photo : Reuters

Beckie Scott au Panthéon des sports du Canada

Les championnes olympiques Cassie Campbell et Beckie Scott, ainsi que l'ancien attaquant étoile des Islanders de New York Mike Bossy et ex-joueur des Expos de Montréal Larry Walker ont officiellement été intronisés au Panthéon des sports du Canada, jeudi.

Campbell, capitaine des équipes canadiennes de hockey féminin qui ont remporté la médaille d'or aux Jeux olympiques d'hiver de 2002 et 2006, est devenue la première hockeyeuse à être intronisée au Panthéon.

Le ski de fond a aussi eu droit à un premier intronisé, homme ou femme, en Scott. Celle-ci est devenue, en 2002, la première fondeuse nord-américaine à décrocher une médaille aux Jeux d'hiver. Elle est maintenant une représentante d'athlète au sein du CIO, elle siège à la commission des athlètes de l'Agence mondiale antidopage et fait partie du conseil d'administration du comité organisateur des Jeux de 2010, qui auront lieu à Vancouver.

Bossy, qui est maintenant âgé de 50 ans, est le seul joueur dans l'histoire de la LNH à avoir connu neuf saisons consécutives de 50 buts ou plus. Ce qui est d'autant plus remarquable qu'il n'a disputé que 10 campagnes avant de devoir prendre sa retraite à cause de maux de dos.

26 octobre 2007

James Christie

One good thing about Canada's Sports Hall of Fame not having a physical home - no one has to let out the seams to make more exhibit space when there's a mass induction such as last night.

Eight of the greatest athletes and builders in the Canadian sports field gained entry to the pantheon, including athletes born abroad and the hall's first female hockey player.

Entering the hall as athletes were hockey's Mike Bossy and Cassie Campbell, football's Doug Flutie, Olympic wrestler Daniel Igali, cross-country skier and Olympian Beckie Scott and baseball's Larry Walker. Sport pioneers Sam Jacks and Dr. Robert Steadward entered as builders.

The night belonged to the Olympians more than the professionals, and the induction of two female gold medalists was seen as a symbol of the changing face of sport.

Campbell made the breakthrough as the first female hockey player after 101 men. Campbell is the only Canadian to captain two championship squads and selectors saw it as the time to acknowledge the growth and success of the women's game. Campbell, recently retired, fits as a perfect example Canadian girls can identify with. She was a national team member from 1994 through 2006 and a pioneer in the development of her sport.

"It's an honour not just for me, but for my sport, and I hope this opens doors for many more," said Campbell, who dedicated the award to some of the pioneers who preceded her: Angela James, France St. Louis and Sue Scherer.

Scott was the first North American woman to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing. It was a triumph of persistence, both in her training and in her fight to clean up a drug-fuelled cross-country scene. Her third-place finish in the five-kilometre pursuit in the Salt Lake Winter Games in 2002 was raised to gold more than two years later when both skiers who finished ahead of her were disqualified for using a performance-enhancing drug. Scott, who recently became a mother, is a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency and an athlete member of the International Olympic Committee.

"Any time the country you've represented your whole life says they appreciate you, it's an honour, but particularly to share the day with Cassie," she said. "It symbolizes a great day for women in sport."

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